Finally, you have a full day ahead of you. Hours pass and you
have done plenty of things — but not the project that pushed you
to push aside everything else.

Your boss and colleagues probably think you're lazy, you figure.
You think you're lazy. You spend more time preparing for your
project rather than beginning it.

The situation above may seem familiar. Sure, there are times when
laziness is the reason for not getting something done, but more
often the root of procrastination is fear, says British
philosopher and author Alain de Botton on his
website, The Book of Life.

"We begin to work only when the fear of doing nothing at all
exceeds the fear of not doing it very well … And that can take
time," he writes.

The only way to overcome this habit, then, is to abandon the
accompanying habit of perfectionism. Instead of wasting time
planning around and preparing for your project, find a way to
begin it. Do not fuss over details as you move forward.

An imperfectly done task is better than an unfinished task.

The Book of Life's parent organization, The School of Life,
produced a short animated video that outlines de Botton's
thoughts on the subject: